MAY, I have more Mexican food?

Awesome sign on my side of the tracks.

TUESDAY TO TUESDAY, do enjoy.

Last TUESDAY- Half Day
It is normal for the day after Easter to be a joke at school, because it is sort of assumed that families are still celebrating with friends as well as extended family. I went to school anyhow. My first class of the day, I have 11th form for the second period. They all decided to play hooky. Fine with me. I chilled in the teacher’s room listened to my iPod and wrote some letters. Third period, I had 5thA form. Normally, I have 20 kids, but instead only 7. We checked homework, continued working for a little bit, but then decided to play heads up, three up (they still enjoyed the easy game adapted 7up).

In between third and fourth lesson, there is a 25 minute lunch break. This day teachers brought pashka (Easter bread) to share. But what made this lunch period a feast was the fact one of the part time teachers had gotten engaged. Break out the sandwiches, holodets, candies, cookies and wine. The bell rang for fourth lesson to start. Only a few teachers headed to class. I was suppose to teach with Valya (girl my age who got engaged), but since it was her party we were covered and didn’t have to go teach. 5thB form I had for 5th period. Again, normally 18 students 6 that day. We did normal class, but for the last 15 minutes played a game. Oh, did I also mention that all classes were cut from 45 minutes to 35.

WEDNESDAY – Uno & Cake.
My English club that started out as a ‘Friends’ watching English club has now transformed into an Uno club, which is completely fine with me. In winter, we decided that it would be more comfortable to meet at my flat for tea (provided by me) and cookies (provided by the students) instead of the cold room in the children’s library building. So now almost every Wednesday at 5pm we get together at my flat. This week I told the students not to bring anything, because Melissa’s family had loaded me down with delicious cakes and I need to unload them on to some other souls. The students were happy to help. So over tea and delicious cakes, we played many games of Uno. They also advised me on what to yell if a kid happens to yell cuss words at me next time I run. Now, I have two cuss words in my Ukrainian knowledge.


Travis & Aidan passing out info at the WELL seminar.


THURSDAY – Pizza and Drunks
Thursday was a normal day at school. Some classes make me happy to be at school and others don’t. After, I came home did some things around the house before heading to the pizzeria at seven to have dinner with Val and Tanya. It was a great way to celebrate getting our monthly stipend in our accounts (otherwise Val who is still mastering the skill of budgeting would have probably passed on the invite). Val and I went ahead and ordered some food, because Tanya texted me that she would be a little late coming from working at the hospital.

So there Val and I sat chatting it up about school, the weather, and the new Britney Spears video that was playing when the Ukrainian men behind us noticed that we were speaking a foreign language. One guy started to get into our conversation by asking if we were speaking English or German. He was a harmless as well as his two other friends that were professional dressed and not too too drunk. With nothing else to important to do, Val and I amused them with our little Ukrainian. Eventually, Tanya got there. Let’s just say that she wasn’t as amused with the idea of chatting with these men so after they finished theie beer we asked them if they would leave our table so we could practice English with Tanya. They didn’t seem to be insulted at all and left with no problems. That day not a big deal to be interrupted, but I feel like you have to be in a good mood to play the token happy American who doesn’t mind speaking with random uninvited table guests.


Whoever did this feel free to come to Kivertsi and tag my building with some art.

FRIDAY – Beer or Canvas
On Friday, I couldn’t have been in a better mood. Beginning of a four day weekend! Woot woot for Ukrainian Labor Days (the first Monday and Tuesday of May). Val and I headed into Lutsk after school to go to a Kievstar (cellphone and modem company) to buy a special modem at a discount price. When we got into the city I called the boys (Jon and Ben) who were already enjoying their vacation by hanging at a local outdoor beer patio/tent. Val and I headed over to meet up with them. Eventually the group became seven of us.

The group enjoyed some beer while I had my first cavas (non-alcohol rootbeer like drink) of the season. After the group finished at the location, we all headed to the center so Val and I could make our modem purchases before heading to a pizza place to grab an early dinner. I don’t know if it was the lunch that I had previous to getting into Lutsk or the cavas, but something didn’t agree with my stomach so after finishing my little small meal I headed back to Kivertsi without Val. Got home, but didn’t play too long on the internet, because I knew I would need to be rising at a decent hour the next day.


Kate size or Kelsey size? You decide.

SATURDAY – W.E.L.L.
WELL stands for Workshops in English Language and Leadership. It was created and is run by fellow PCVs. This weekend a workshop was hosted at the University in Lutsk for students from 10th to first year university. It was a lot of fun to work with other volunteers as well as be around a large group of students enthusiastic about learning English. I along with three others taught a session about Asia and inventions that were created there and Africa specifically four countries. I was a little disappointed that Ghana nor Kenya were not ones.

The workshop was from ten in the morning until a little past five in the evening. It was great event and I was impressed with everything. After, the volunteers, I believe there were around fourteen of us, headed to one of our favorite Lutsk restaurants to get some grub. I pretty much take every opportunity to order borscht that I can since I have yet to make it myself (I think I might be frequently traveling to Ukrainian Village in Chicago to indulge in Ukrainian cuisine when I get home). After dinner, we headed to the same beer patio from the day before. It is great to sitting around with a large group of PCVs and shoot the shit. You can imagine that I shared some stories. Kelsey (my link mate from training) was visiting for the weekend as well as some of Val’s friends so there was a little convoy of American girls headed back to Kivertsi. We had an interesting marshuka ride home to say the least from unwanted attention of two fellow passengers that were intoxicated.


Because my pops requested. The supermarket is like any grocery store on the inside.

SUNDAY – Mexican & Euro Trip Plannin’
With Kelsey’s presence at my site and her cooking abilities, we decided to make Mexican and with the presence of volunteers left over from the WELL it quickly turned into a FIESTA instead of just a boring dinner with the two of us. There were nine of us and we all enjoyed hot sauce and ranch dip mix that RPCV Becky graciously sent to me. Late lunch started around three and lasted until six thirty-ish when we decided the weather was so nice that we should probably go for a walk.

Kelsey and I eventually broke off from the group to walk around Kivertsi and take some photos. She brought her nice DSL camera while I look like an amateur with my little Canon Powershot. Side note: I miss my first beloved Powershot. It took by far better and more vivid photos than my current one. Anywho, we made a short appearance at Val’s house before beating the rain home. Once, we got back it was time to plan, so plan we did. Kelsey and I have got the dates and rough route we will be taking this summer to explore Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Oh, how awesome it is to be a PCV with a summer break. I’m going to miss this very much one day.

MONDAY – Bye & Movie Weather
Kelsey set her alarm to get to the bus station in Lutsk at a decent hour. She was out of my flat by 7:30 and instead of going back to bed I opted to watch the Swedish version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and then take a nap before lunch time. Well let’s just say that the nap never happened, but a long movie-a-thon did. I’m a little ashamed to say I wasted the day by watching four and half movies. Only stopping in the middle to shower and have a few short phone conversations, but I’m blaming the weather. It was chilly with a very dark overcast. The majority of the day, I spent curled up in my sleeping bag watching movies. I love to get lost in a good or even not so good movie. If you thought watching 4.5 movies was sad, you might want to take a seat. I declined my normal coffee in my TB routine yesterday and with the lack of caffeine I was asleep at 6pm because I slept through an alarm that was suppose to keep it at a one hour nap. Fun times.

This TUESDAY
With the enormous amount of sleep from last night, I woke up early and got to it. Little laundry, check. Refilled my cupboards with clean dishes, check. Cleaned kitchen, check. Graded vocab quizzes, check. Emails, check. The only thing I have left to do before heading into Lutsk is to proof read this, post it and then I’m out the door to go Skype with my sister. Well I might need to throw on a pair of pants before exiting my flat.

Hope everyone is starting their May well. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Put Another Hole in Your Belt…

Churches on the outskirts of Lviv.

Oh boy, I’m enjoying sitting eating nothing in my flat. It isn’t for the lack of food, but because I had another Easter extravaganza. Friday morning, I headed to Komarno which is a small town outside of Lviv with my PCV friend Melissa. She has relatives, because her pops’ parents are from Ukraine. So I took the marshuka to Lutsk, bus to Lviv, marshuka across town to the train station, and another bus to Komarno; around eight hours to get there. But oh let me tell you it was well worth it.


Slava, Hanna, & Bohdan showin' me the cake business.

We stayed with Bohdan and Slava Krut who are Melissa’s second cousins. They might possibly be the nicest Ukrainians ever. Their daughter and son-in-law along with their two kids live with them. (It is normal in Ukraine for many generations to live together in one house) I made quick friends with Iryna, an entertaining 6 year old. The first evening I got free admission of the family business; a cake bakery of sorts. The family made around 150 cakes for Easter, and they also baked many paskas (Easter bread) of all different sizes. Throughout the year, they bake cakes for events and weddings. I can testify that they areдуже смачний (very delicious).


Old wooden church where we watched Easter performances by the local children.

After getting to see the ins and outs of cake making, we headed off to the Orthodox Church. People from town were busy cleaning, dusting and hanging traditional clothes for Easter weekend. It was beautiful church and awesome to see lit up at night. Our little group made up of Ivana (Bohdan’s daughter), Iryna (Bohdan’s granddaughter), Kristina (Melissa’s other cousin) and Olya (Kristina’s daughter) stopped off at the Catholic Church before headed back to their part of town.


Some of our decorated eggs made the Easter basket. Unfortunately my I {heart} Ukraine red one didn't make the cut.

Saturday, Melissa and I got to sleep in and then were fed breakfast before another busy day. We headed across to the street to Kristina’s family’s house to color and design eggs. Some eggs were crafted really beautiful. Mine…ehh, but I can say I had a little more attention to detail than the six year old that was sitting next to me. After finishing the eggs, we hit the backyard pond with Kristina’s husband and three kids (all university or just out of age). With the collapsible cane poles, we caught some small fish. We used a catch and release system so it could have been the same three fish in the pond for all we know. After taking in some afternoon sun, we gather back in the kitchen to have some sandwiches as well as try some delicious homemade cake. I’m guessing that I probably sampled at least 15 different types of cake over the course of my stay.


Linin' up of the baskets.

At 6pm, all dressed up we headed off to get our Easter baskets blessed at the church. Each family brings a basket sometimes more than one to church. The standard basket ingredients are sausage, butter, cheese, salt, eggs, horseradish, ham, but aren’t limited to just that (I saw some kids with their own little baskets that had chocolate bunnies). Scriptures were read, songs were sung, and Ukrainians crossed themselves many times before the priest made his way around (people made a huge circle around the church) to bless the baskets as well as toss holy water on the Easter worshipers. Saturday night, we had a normal dinner and then enjoyed each others company before calling it a night.


The crew at the end of the Easter house crawl.

I opted to sleep instead of going to the 6am service. I figured God would understand that I needed enough rest for the Ukrainian Easter Crawl that was about to happen. On Sunday, Melissa and I ate at three different houses besides Bohdan and Slava’s were we started off with a heavy Easter brunch (all types of delicious dishes made from the ingredients that were blessed at church the previous day). Bohdan was kind enough to drive us around in his thirty year old Lada (soviet era). I thought my Whitey was a sweet car; his Soviet made wagon was a pretty pimping ride. We were welcomed at different extended family members’ houses with very similar traditional dishes. It was fun visiting with all the family. The Krut family has some pretty interesting businesses: cake, bees, rabbits, fashion design, and glass/mirror creations. They were no dull moments on this Easter excursion.


Slava and Bohdan giving us a warm send off.

Monday morning, we (Melissa, Bohdan, Slava, Iryna, and myself) headed to one last Easter feast. It was another extended family’s place that was just one village over. We again enjoyed many cakes, paskas, sausage and here I even had my second helping of holodets (meat jello) of the trip. By 12:30, we were headed back to Bohdan and Slava’s house to pack up our stuff. There we were greated by some of the family who came to see us off. We were not able to leave without being given an Easter bag of goodies. They were a little heavy to haul back to Lutsk, but worth it in the end. Bohdan and Slava drove us to the center of town to catch our bus to leave, even stood alongside the bus to waved good bye as we pulled out of the parking lot.


I may have not received a chocolate rabbit from the Easter bunny, but Melissa's family didn't send me home empty handed.

It was a long journey back to Lutsk. There was even an unfortunate incident with a puker on the bus ride home (inquire about details via email), but I eventually returned home to Kivertsi around 8ish unharmed. Easter of 2011 provided to be a great one despite being far, far away from home.

Miss and love you all,

Kate

Boxing Out

Val's English teacher party at her doma (home). For being a vegetarian meal, it wasn't too shabby at all.

Howdy, howdy all. It is another Monday morning which means a later start at school for me. I slept in…woo 7:45am is really late. I do appreciate being able to slowly get ready. Ample time to read NPR (I’m not too happy about New York Times limiting online reading), make a hot breakfast, wash my hair, and most important morning ‘to do’ layering appropriately for school.

You are probably thinking why layers. Well last friday was the last day of heat in my school. Not like it the school was ever too toasting, but it took the chill off. Now, I’m back to long sleeve t-shirts under my sweaters, but no three pairs of pants are needed so that is something to be happy about. The weather has been all over the place the last week and half. Some afternoons it broke into the low 50s and after a cold winter I don’t feel like I even need a jacket. Then the next day it rained with a strong wind and I played with the idea of getting my winter coat back out. I’ll look forward to a constant sunshine and warmth of the summer months.


Along with dribbling, we should probably teach boxing out.

Nothing too incredibly exciting in the last couple of weeks, I’m really waiting for summer to get here and in the mean time trying to survive school. The warmer it gets the more rowdy the students are. I keep telling myself just a little over a month and I’ll be free. I have full blown summeritis.

Lately, I have been reading a lot which is great. Nothing like losing yourself in a book to pass the time. Something that makes this even more enjoyable is that I finally cleaned off my balcony (taking all the glass jars and junk and shifting it to the fair end of the balcony). Now, I have a lovely place to sit on a stool and read while people watching. Oh, I’ve seen some interesting things.


I've seen goal tending. Ukrainians take it to a whole nother level.

I saw three older woman who I’m guessing late 50s/early 60s walking arm and arm just laughing. The type when someone can’t even get out a full sentence without starting to burst into laughter. It made me miss my friends especially Bre. The other interesting thing was a drunken bicycler. Drunken strolling around town isn’t super dangerous, but to drunk cycling. It is one thing to take a NCC red bike on a tipsy cruise down to your friend’s dorm (I never did this), but potentially playing chicken with marsukas on their route to the next village…no thank you.

Most frustrating moment of the week: getting cussed at and rocks thrown at me by a 10 year old as his little gang laughed. All I wanted to do was to get a run in at the track. Next time, I’m taking my own ammo. I was decent softball player back in the day. He better watch out.


So that is where the bathroom sink is.

Most fun thing of the week: hooping it up with a group of kids in the park next to my house. Val and I split the kids and tried to match them up to guard each other. It would work for all of one possession before all hell would break loose. There was mass amounts of traveling, double dribble, fouling and goal tending (please see photo). Val and I might purchase another ball so we can do little group activities like a layup line and some dribbling exercises. Organized basketball doesn’t really exist here.

Well that about it. I hope everyone is well. Know that I will be very excited when the time comes that I see you all on a normal basis or at least have an unlimited nights and weekend plan we were can chat without the use of Skype or international phone cards. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Two for the Price of... None

Tourists don't know where they've been; travelers don't know where they're going.

Upon My Wall

I sit and stare at it upon my wall-
board the closest ship
voyage through the North Atlantic
try the Indian ocean again
no stopping until the shores of Asia
recollect the sun going down over West Africa
never disappointed

green fields of Ireland have still gone unseen
maybe onward to County Clare
roots also lead to farm lands of Germany
house built in the hillside waits to be photographed

infinite places to go
even more stories to craft
drinks to share, cuisines to try
laughs to hear, images to capture

but longer the stare, bigger it seems
longer I’m away, more I’m drawn toward where I started

-not time yet anyhow,
pins hold the old crinkled map
along with my dreams
upon the wall.

Backless Stool

Shadows slowly emerge on the dirty kitchen floor
from the coming of the morning sun
dew rests on a few colorful arrivals
cared for garden beds lay quietly
the old babushka creaks by on her antique bicycle
hum of the ancient refrigerator is heard over the neighborhood dogs
whose cries announce their presence on this Soviet block
birds slowly congregate in the trees across the street
as do faithful believers of the little blue church with the golden dome
whilst their melodies flood out the cracked windows
smell of cheap coffee lingers in the air
the cool breeze floats into the still slumbering flat
on my backless stool I gaze out the window
I wait patiently for my most desired morning company;
her name is April.

Excuse me teacher...but why?

Enjoying another day with the 7th formers.

Why do I have to ask to go sharpen my pencil?

If I have the correct answer, why can’t I just say it, and why do I need to raise my hand?

Why do we have to stand in a single file line to get our lunches?

I do my work and listen, why do I have an assigned seat next to the class trouble maker?

Why can’t I pass notes, it is better than talking in class?

I know where the gym is, why do I have to walk in a line with everyone to get there?

Why can’t I write in pen?

It is recess time why can’t we rough house?

Why can’t I snack in class?

These are questions that floated around my head as a student. I sometimes thought teachers enforced the dumbest rules, were all about control, old and outdated. As I stand in front of a class that I’m a decade older than, NOW I completely understand. I would argue teaching is one of the most challenging jobs. As a teacher one has to balance the crazy energy and emotions students bring to the classroom. Teachers try to guide each individual through personal learning obstacles while advancing the class as a whole.

Through teaching in my Peace Corps experience, I’m realizing on how large of an impact that teachers have on people’s lives. Teachers play a huge role in shaping every student who walks through their doors. We have the strict teachers to show us sometimes the rules won’t bend, so we shouldn’t expect them to. We have the goofy teacher who shows us that on some level we really never have to grow up. We have the encouraging teacher who makes every student feel like they are her favorite. We have the challenging teacher who sees our potential and pushes us. And if we are really lucky, we have a teacher who wears all these hats.

I’m closing in on finishing my third semester of teaching at my Ukrainian school (5th through 11th formers). I don’t think I have had the impact like so many of my teachers did on me, but something else special is happening. I realize that I’m not only teaching them, but they have taught me a few significant life lessons. Students will always point out when I have chalk on the back of my pants. Patience is one if not the most important qualities to possess. Small victories add up to big ones over time. Teachers enjoy holiday breaks as much if not more than students. No energy is wasted when helping a struggling student. Sometimes, I need to loosen up and just laugh. They might not remember all the correct grammar tenses, but they will remember how I made them feel. Roll with teaching moments even if they aren’t in my lesson plan. Leave personal problems at the door and come in with a good attitude. Simple praise for a student’s work can really motivate. Sometimes an entertaining game of Heads Up, 7 Up is needed.

I write this as I’m struggling to focus and, along with the students, I’m developing Summeritis and longing for the school year to wrap up quickly. I have my good lessons as well as not so good lessons, but hopefully they all balance out in the end. I hope that every teacher, TEFL in Peace Corps or normal school teacher back at home, on their not so good days remember why they do, what they do.

Kate

A special list of teachers who have shaped my life for the better, I thank you for your patience, kindness, encouragement, humor, support and showing up every day to get the job done.

Mrs. Mc Mellon, Mrs. Nalley, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Hentchel, Mrs. Deyo, Mrs.Watts, Mr. Webb, Ms. Lane, Mrs. Griswold, Mrs. Boyle, Mr. Blew, Mrs. Kinney, Ms. Perry, Ms. Wente, Ms. Gribble, Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Jennings, Mr. Mercer, Mrs. Patty, Ms. Frost, Mr. Flagg, Mr. Schmidt, Mrs. Heth, Mr. Grey, Ms. Singer, Mrs. Rickey and all other teachers and staff members who behinds the scenes support the students as well as their co-workers. God bless you all.

(To my English teachers, I apologize I still don’t like or use commas appropriately and hate proofreading. Maybe in my next life)

Flags, Smoke, Police, & Futbol

Volyn's fan/young & crazy section!

Another normal week in Ukraine, and by normal I mean a week filled with the most random of things. This week I’m going to use a list format, because…well I want to. Please do enjoy.

-“Teacher: A teacher’s job is to take a room full of live wires and try to ground’em all.” Off of the country saying of the day calendar. I would concur.

-I found probably grey hair number five. I would explain it from the previous item on this list.

-April Fool’s Day is celebrated in Ukraine (sometimes). I was greeted at the school door by four dancing Roma women (gypsies as Ukrainians would say). Very…interesting.


Pre-gaming with potatoes and vodka.

-Sweatin’ with the oldies. By that I mean, sweating with the little old babas on the bus who still wear winter coats and scarves. It is only early April and I’m already screaming on the inside for some to open a window. Going to be a long summer.

-Until this week I had never played Frisbee with a man who had a fake leg. Outside of Val’s house, we played Frisbee in the street with her two Ukrainian neighbors who were at the youngest in their fifties. Good times!

-2 quiet PCVs + 1 loud PCV (not me) + 1 extremely loud Ukrainian teacher counterpart + 1 old curious and looking to get married Ukrainian man = awkwardness for the whole bus the 30 mins from Lutsk to Kivertsi.

-Always make friends with the man sitting next to you at the football match. You will get free sunflower seeds and they will be entertained with your American cuss words as you yell at the panzie from the other team who was faking an injury.


Jay gets best fan of the day award. He traveled from northern Volynska Oblast 6 hours all together. (Left Jay, Right Terry being a goof)

-plus10<20 cups of coffee. With my lack of energy this past week, I have finally taking up coffee. It is the fake instant coffee that is sold in single packets. I feel so more adult now reading NPR and the NYTimes online over a hot cup of joe.

-Sad. Is the best word to describe the situation of being on a public shitter and discovering TP when you forgot to bring your own and the excitement it adds to my life. Oh, and the second saddest thing would have to be finding a public bathroom that has a toilet seat.

-“She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time”

Me enthusiastically singing this Taylor Swift jingle that was being played in the Ukrainian grocery store to a not so enthusiastic Melissa. Oh how this was the best day ever in Tam Tam (grocery store). I heard country music and I made the best purchase every, drum roll please… a BASKETBALL. Now, Val and I can finally hoop it up on the courts next to my building. Ukraine isn’t going to know what hit’em.


Why not celebrate with smoke bombs and fireworks in a crowded stadium. Final score them 3, us 0.

-Congratulations to Corey and Casey Barrette! They got hitched this past Saturday. Really wish I could have been home to celebrate with you, but I was thinking of you the whole day over here in Ukraine. Love you both Mr. & Mrs. Graham-cracker!

- The beginning of April is here and I’m already hardcore yearning for June. Can you say summeritis?

-Parks & Recreation I would like to add to my ever growing list of loved TV discovered in Ukraine. Amy Poehler is no Tina Fey, but still pretty funny. Just finished up season two, now need to get some at the next PCV get together.

-Fresh air and more sunlight are now enjoyed in my flat. This weekend I took down the plastic that had been nailed up around my windows in the room I sleep in. My balcony needs some seriously cleaning. I found my missing sink, but from the looks of it I doubt it will be returning to the bathroom any time soon.

-UConn loses in the first game of the final four. Suck it Geno! Since my Lady Vols aren’t in it, I can cheer for the team that knocked them off. Go Irish!! Oh, how I miss March Madness and all types of familiar sports and teams I like to watch. Go Cubs!

As you can see from above nothing too crazy happened, but not anything too boring either. Hope everyone is enjoying spring weather and that green grass as well as colorful flowers soon surround you. I can say I’m thoroughly enjoying walking to school with no scarf, gloves, and double pairs of pants. On days like today, I even get to rock on with sunglasses on my walk across town. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Mt. Hoverla: "Val, I don't like this!!!"

It started getting really steep where the line of people disappear into the clouds.

The title of this blog is a direct quote from yours truly during my descend down Mt. Hoverla. I took part in an event that has been going on for the last 100 years in Ukraine. Normally in late winter/early spring, Ukrainians gather to climb the tallest peak in the Carpathians. A Peace Corps Volunteer organization hosts this event. Last year, Catherine (PCV who hosts the event with her organization) and two other PCVs as well as group of Ukrainians conquered the mountain. This year 85 PCVs came together to climb this Ukrainian Everest!

On Friday morning, I headed into Lutsk to meet up with the local Volynska crew (Jon, Terry, and Melissa). We took around a three and half hour bus ride to Lviv. There we grabbed dinner at local restaurants and bumped into many small groups of other PCVs. Around 9pm, all the PCVs gathered in the train station to check in and get our assigned seats on the two cars that were mostly Americans. In my compartment, there was Allison (cluster mate), Val (site mate), Kathleen (fellow Turkmenistan reject), and two other PCVs that I hadn’t met before. We got settled in at a decent hour, because we wanted to be rested for our big adventure.

We arrived to the nearest town next to Mt. Hoverla around 4ish in the morning. At 7am, together Ukrainians and Americans gathered and jammed on to many marsukas to head to the beginning of the path. By the time, we got checked into the national park and dropped off at the beginning of our hike it was around 8am. The hike started on a gravel road, that eventually led us to a ski lounge, there we were paired by two as we headed out on a narrower trail.


Me trying to look calm on the climb to "little Hoverla."

The group estimated right around 600 hikers weaved its way through a forested area that was covered in mud and ice. Eventually after making it out from under trees, we hiked up a very steep incline. My group of friends were at the end of the snake up this part. It was all snow. We had an advantage of people going in front of us. We did our best to use their foot prints as foot holes. We got to the mini summit around noon. This is what we were told was the false peak. The actual summit was many more kilometers up. Only a handful of people from the entire Ukrainian and American group made it to the top. You were only allowed to go up if you had proper equipment.

Even at “little Hoverla” as some Ukrainians called it, I couldn’t see the real submit, because it was covered from clouds and blowing snow. On “little Hoverla” most Americans and Ukrainians took this as a chance to have a picnic. People snacked on things such as power bars to cucumbers and sausage. I’ll let you figure out what nationality was eating what. Also a decent amount of vodka, homemade moonshine and wine were consumed at the top as well. After taking some photos and snacking, Val, Allison and I decided that it was a good time to head back, because it was quite cold and windy.

Let me tell you on the way up I said many prayers, because I could see myself tumbling off the side of the mountain. I was nervous the whole way up and didn’t say much. With that said, going down was by far worse. To try to walk down the footsteps that we made on the way up didn’t work very well. So we along with a few others that were the first to head back decided to take to the fresh snow and side step it all the way to the bottom. This worked until I lost my footing and ended up sliding down. Now picture Allison probably 15 yards down and to the right of me with Val somewhere in the middle. The farther I slide the more momentum I built up. As soon as I started sliding I started yelling the phrase, “I don’t like this!!! Val, I don’t like this!” Val was yelling back “Grab a bush.” There were evergreen bushes that were buried in the snow that were scattered along the slope. I felt like I was using every ounce in my body to grab a bush as well as heel in my boots. Still I was sliding and couldn’t stop myself. It felt like I had greased up my pants with Crisco with how quickly I was sliding.


Should have known it wasn't going to be a piece of cake.

Finally from grabbing a bush that was many yards from where I had originally started this terrifying ‘ride’ was I able to stop. I stood there while Val made it down closer to me. We took a few minutes as I regained my breathe as well as attempted to regain my composure. Then we started at it again trying to side step our way to safety. I would slip and do everything to catch myself before ending up giving way to the Crisconess of my pants. At one point, I look at over to Val and with no shame said, “I’m scared.” It was a few more steps that again I lost control and started sliding again. Trying not to panic I thought just ride it out until I can grab a bush.

Problem. Another PCV Erin and her boyfriend were directly below me. I was like yelling again “I don’t like this!” as she was yelling up to me who was gaining speed in her direction “Kate Schmidt you better not hit me!” By the time, I reached them I was able to redirect my path of trajectory not to hit them and grab a hold of a nearby bush. Long story, short: I survived Mt. Hoverla with a little help from my friends. It was a great experience, but I don’t think I would want to climb it again. Ukrainians told us that it was the worst weather that they had experienced in all the hikes they could remember. It had rained, sleeted, and snowed at different points in the hike. Regardless, I had a great time with my fellow volunteers and have another crazy story to add to my Peace Corps Volunteer service.


Woot woot a group of us on top of "little Hoverla."

Saturday evening, we grabbed dinner in a small local café and recounted the crazy moments of the day. Val made the best analogy by saying people sliding down the mountain out of control with fear in their eyes was like watching Titanic when the ship is sinking and people are sliding down the deck. Oh, good times. The train started heading back to Lviv around 10pm and we arrived at what was 4:15amish, but really 5:15am (Ukrainian day light saving is two weeks behind). We hung out in the train station until 6am. Stood for 20mins freezing in the darkness while waiting for a marsuka out to the bus station. Caught a 7:05 bus back to Lutsk and I was home by 11:30.

It was a long weekend and I was exhausted yesterday as well as today, but again I had a great time. It was really awesome to see volunteers I don’t get to visit with a lot as well as my local crew of volunteers. I definitely realized that I lucked out with having a great group of PCVs right around me in Volynska Oblast as well as having them not far from me. I have a site mate as well as 5 volunteers 40ish minutes away by bus. From sharing the train, helping each other up and down the mountain and eating together I realized we really are like a family; strange and crazy but none the less a family. The overall experience was a great way to wrap up my spring break.


Part of the Volynska crew hanging out in the train station.

Earlier in the week, I was able to hang out with Allison at my site on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday, I spent reading, napping, and cleaning. Thursday, I went into Lutsk to have lunch with Terry and then use the internet café to Skype with my sister and Bre. The best part was getting to watch (from ground floor level) Leo sprint crawl across the floor to the pc. He is super, super cute these days. Then Friday was when the great Mt. Hoverla Experience started. This week I’m looking forward to a normal week of school and crossing my fingers for warm and sunny weather. Hope everyone is enjoying spring where ever they find themselves. Miss and love you all.

Kate

Quote of the Week:
“Have you ever had the bathroom attendant say molodets (great job) to you?”- PCV Ben after spending 15 minutes in the train station bathroom in Lviv